ATVs & Off-Road Vehicles Anticipatory Set: Who here has a quad at home? At a friend or family member’s home? How long have you been riding? Has anyone ever been in an ATV incident? How about a close call? What do you think were the contributing factors to that incident?   Statement of Purpose: Today we’re going to look at ATVs and off-road vehicles, including getting the proper training, wearing the right gear, and some useful guidelines.

ATV Safety Messages Get Trained Look first Drive Sober One Seat One Rider Wear the Gear (NOTE: These 5 points are covered in more detail in the next five slides.)   How many of you, when using ATVs or off road vehicles, follow these 5 key safety messages? Practicing these 5 safety messages has been proven to decrease your chances of injury and save lives.

Get Trained Safety courses increase your skill, so you can learn how to handle your ATV on different terrain and conditions They give you hands on practice and lower your risk of injury If you are old enough to ride an ATV ask your parents to sign you up for a hands-on ATV safety course (Alberta Safety Council).   If you will use an ATV to do farm chores, ask your parents or employer to teach you how to use an ATV when hauling a trailer or carrying a load. ATV training courses are very important because while your new ATV may look very easy to operate, it is really a complex vehicle that requires specialized skill and repeated practice to drive safely.

Look First Looking first means being aware of things that are around you Making smart choices Being prepared Reinforce points on the slide: Looking first Marking smart choices Being prepared Look at your ATV to make sure it is in good working order Look at your plans and let someone know where you will be going and when you will be back Look if you have enough fuel Look if you have a cell-phone or way of getting help Look if you have a first aid kit and ATV repair kit Look if lakes and rivers have thick enough ice to cross Look out for other riders, traffic, pedestrians and wildlife Look at what the laws are surrounding ATV use

Drive Sober – Alcohol, drugs and ATVs don’t mix Do not use any alcohol or drugs when using an ATV Even a small amount will make it harder to think and act quickly Reinforce that alcohol and drugs don’t mix. Nobody, including your family members, should ever use an ATV after drinking alcohol or using drugs. Even a couple of drinks will impair the ability to operate an ATV. You have the same risks as driving a motor vehicle impaired. Drinking alcohol and using an ATV could result in being charge for impaired driving.

One Seat – One Rider! ATV seats are large to allow the rider to shift their weight and control their machine Never have more riders than seats Doubling increases the risk of rollovers and injuries.   A passenger on a single rider ATV reduces the driver’s ability to stop, turn or shift their weight. Passengers affect the ATV’s balance and steering increasing the likelihood that you will lose control of your ATV. For a tandem ATV or two person ATV, never carry a passenger under 12 years of age or too small to grab the hand rails, plant their feet on the footrests or fit the seatbelt properly.

Wear the Gear Wear an approved helmet with face and eye protection every time Over the ankle boots with heels, sturdy gloves, long-sleeved shirts and long pants Head injuries are the leading cause of serious injury and death in ATV-related injury events.   Correct Gear: Certified ATV Helmet Goggles Riding or leather gloves Long sleeve shirt and thicker long pants Chest protector Boots that have a heel and come over the ankle

Wrap – Up Take the things you talked about today and share the message on how to lower the risk of injury from ATV use with your fellow students and family members What are some ideas you could help teach ATV safety to your co-students with??